Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 04-12-12 13:02
中國姓氏故事 - 高姓
茫茫四海無人數,---Mang2 mang2 si4 hai3 wu2 ren2 shu3,
那個男兒是丈夫.---Na4 ge4 nan2 er2 shi4 zhang4 fu2.
Of the numerous men in the world,
Who can claim as a hero.
許許多多的人當中﹐有幾個是有作為的人呢。
A Chinese proverb
----------------------------------------------
Surname GAO - (高姓)
Gao means: high; tall.
The surname Gao is about 2,600 years old
The surname Gao originated in an area referred to during the Han Dynasty
(漢朝 206BC to 220AD) as the Bohai prefecture (勃海郡). The present day
location of Bohai prefecture is in Cang Xian (滄縣 116.9 degree East and
38.3 degree North on the world map) of Hebei province (河北省).
Jiang Ziya (姜子牙) was the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the
Zhou clan (周族). The leader of the Zhou clan was Ji Fa (姬發). in 1122BC,
Jiang Ziya helped Ji Fa to destroy the Shang Dynasty (商朝1783BC to 1122BC)
and established the Zhou Dynasty (周朝1134BC to 256BC). Ji Fa became the
King and was installed Zhou King Wu (周武王). He rewarded the inheritable
title of Hou (侯) or the Marquis to Jiang Ziya. Unfortunately, in 1116BC,
Zhou King Wu died and was succeeded by his eldest son, Ji Song (姬誦),
who was crowned Zhou King Cheng (周成王).
In 1112BC, Zhou King Cheng delegated Jiang Ziya the authority to rule a
large district called Qi (齊 present day Yingqiu county 營丘縣 in Shandong
province 山東省), which was later renamed as the State of Qi (齊國). Jiang
Ziya was then known as Qi Taigong (齊太公) who was the founder of the State
of Qi. He died of old age.
Ten generations after Jiang Ziya, in 814BC, Jiang Chi (姜赤) was installed
as the 10th ruler of the State of Qi. Jiang Chi, who ruled Qi until 804BC,
appointed one of his sons to administer an area called Gao (高 in the present
day northeast of Zouping county 鄒平縣 in Shandong province). As the administrator
of Gao he was known as Prince Gao (高公子).
Jiang Xi (姜溪), the grandson of Prince Gao, was the best friend of Jiang
Xiaobai (姜小白) who was the younger brother of the 14th ruler of Qi called
Jiang Zhuer (姜諸兒) who ruled Qi from 697BC to 686BC. Jiang Xiaobai went
into exile as he was in antagonism with Jiang Zhuer. In 686BC Jiang Zhuer
was assassinated by his cousin brother Jiang Wuzhi (姜無知) who was later
killed by Jiang Xi who accused him of having committed regicide. Jiang Xi
recalled Jiang Xiaobai back to Qi to become the ruler of Qi. In 685BC, Jiang
Xiaobai was installed the 15th ruler of Qi. He ruled Qi till he died in
643BC.
Being grateful to Jiang Xi for helping to become the ruler, Jiang Xiaobai
rewarded him by appointing him as a high official and also by allowing him
to adopt GAO (高), his grandfather's name, as his surname.
During the Later Han Dynasty (東漢 25AD to 220AD) a descendant of Prince
Gao by the name of Gao Hong (高洪) was appointed the governor of Bohai Prefecture.
When his term as the governor was expired he did not return to the capital,
Luoyang (洛陽), but settled down in Tiao (蓨 in the present day Jing Xian
景縣 in Hebei province 河北省) which was under the jurisdiction of Bohai
Prefecture where surname Gao is said to have originated.
The couplet of surname GAO is:
莫道名高與爵貴,---Mo4 dao4 ming2 gao yu3 jue2 gui4,
須之子孝和妻賢.---Xu zhi zi3 xiao4 he2 qi xian2.
Do not talk about wanting to have great name and the highly valued of peerage,
But it is important that the son must be filial piety and the wife virtuous.
-------------------------------------
Prominent figures of the Gao clan are:
(1) Gao E (高鶚 1738 to 1815)
During the reign of Emperor Qian Long (乾隆皇帝 1736 to 1795), Gao E passed
the Imperial Examinations and became a 進士 (Jinshi or a scholar). He was
appointed an official. He was also a writer and he styled himself Lan Shu
(蘭墅) and Lan Shi (蘭史).
At that time, there was a man by the name of Cao Xueqin (曹雪芹 1724 to
1763) who was writing a novel based on the history of his family, a Manzou
ethnic (滿族) autocratic family. Cao Xueqin titled his novel "The Tale Of
The Stone" (Shi Tou Ji 石頭記[1]). After having written eighty chapters
of the novel Cao Xueqin died without completing the novel.
Many years after the death of Cao Xueqin, the official cum scholar, Gao
E, took up what Cao Xueqin had left behind and added forty chapters to the
novel. Thus, a novel of 120 chapters were published under a new name called
" Hong Lou Meng 紅樓夢 or A Dream of Red Mansions". Gao E ended the love
story between Gu Bao Yu (賈寶玉) and Lin Daiyu (林黛玉). After the publication
of this book Gao E was nicknamed Hong Lou Wai Shi (紅樓外史). This great
classical book has been popular since its publication in the mid- 18th century.
A couplet by Gao E:
燕歌行中詠邊塞,
蘭墅集外續紅樓.
...............................................
(2) Gao Shi (高適 702AD to 765AD)
Gao Shi was born in the present day county of Jing (景縣) of Hebei province
河北省). He lived in the era of Tang Dynasty (唐朝 618AD to 907AD). He was
a scholar and was appointed an official. He was also a poet and had written
several books. The best known of them were the Bian Sa Shi (邊塞詩), Yan
Ge Xing (燕歌行) and Gao chang Shi Ji (高常侍集). This is his famous poem
called,
A Tang poem by Gao Shi (高適 702AD to 765AD)
古從軍行 Gu Cong Jun Xing
(The march of the ancient warriors)
白日登山望烽火,---Bai2 ri4 deng shan wang4 feng huo3 [*1A],
黃昏飲馬傍交河.---Huang2 hun yin3 ma3 bang4 Jiaohe [*2B].
行人刁斗風沙暗,---Xing2 ren2 diao dou3 [*3C] feng sha an4,
公主琵琶幽怨多.---Gong zhu3 [*4D] PiPa you yuan4 duo.
野營萬里無城郭,---Ye3 ying2 wan4 li3 wu2 cheng2 guo,
雨雪紛紛連大漠.---Yu3 xue3 fen fen lian2 da4 mo4 [*5E].
胡雁哀鳴夜夜飛,---Hu yan4 ai ming2 ye4 ye4 fei,
胡兒眼淚雙雙落.---Hu er2 yan3 lei4 shuang shuang luo4.
聞道玉門猶被遮,---Wen2 dao4 Yumen [*6F] you2 bei4 zhe,
應將性命逐輕車.---Ying jiang xing4 ming4 zhu2 Qing Che [*7G].
年年戰骨埋荒外,---Nian2 nian2 zhan4 gu mai2 huang wai4,
空見萄葡入漢家.---Kong jian4 tao2 pu2 [*8H] ru4 Han jia.
The explanations in plain Chinese and English.
(01) 白天走到山上望那報警的烽火臺,
In a clear day light, I climb up the warning watch tower[1A],
(02) 黃昏時要拉著馬去喝水, 邊走到交河旁邊.
At dusk I take the horse to the bank of Jiao River to drink water.
(03) 遠行的人聽得軍中敲刁斗的聲音, 覺得風沙有暗沉沉的樣子,
When a traveler hears the copper sticks hitting the hour of the day in the
army camp, he feels as if the sandstorm is blowing.
(04) 這淒涼的景象, 比著從前漢朝的宮主下嫁烏孫國, 她在路上彈出非常幽怨的琵
琶聲, 還要深厚哩!
This miserable scene can be compared with the Princess during the Han Dynasty
when she was playing the pipa while on her way to marry the rule of the
Kingdom of Wusun.
(05) 在曠野裏在紮營, 向遠處望著, 萬里茫茫, 看不見城郭,
Look afar in the distance from the camp in this wilderness there is no city
in sight for thousands of miles.
(06) 只有雨和雪, 紛亂地接連那廣大的沙漠.
There are only snow and rain scattering in the vast desert.
(07) 胡地的雁兒, 悲哀地叫著, 夜夜在那裏飛來飛去,
In this miserable land of the Xiongnu there are only wild geese flying about
crying every night,
(08) 胡人聽了, 也會雙雙地落下眼淚來.
Even the Xiongnu will have tears welling up from their eyes after listening
to geese miserable cry.
(09) 聽說玉門關那邊, 現在還被胡人遮斷歸路,
I hear that the homebound road in the Yumen Gate is still blocked off by
the Xiongnu.
(10) 我們的兵士, 自然要把性命命跟了輕車去作戰.
Naturally, our soldiers are still struggling for their lives
(11) 一年一年戰死死的骸骨, 埋葬在荒塞外面,
Every year, the bones of our warriors are buried in this frontier wilderness,
(12) 到後來, 祇有空空地望見匈奴把葡萄進貢到漢朝去罷了!
In the end the Xiongnu pay tribute and introduce grapes to the Han Dynasty.
Notes:
[*1A] 烽火 (feng huo3)
Beacon-fire (used to give border alarm in ancient China)
古時守邊烽火臺上舉的火, 為警急惠徵兵之用.
[*2B] 交河 (Jiao River)
is in the present day Fuyuan county in Xinjang province (新疆省).
在車師國(漢朝時西域國名, 在今新疆省孚遠縣地方), 河水分流
繞城下, 故名. 去長安八千一百五十里.
[*3C] 刁斗 (diao duo3)
In ancient time it was a kind of hitting two copper rods to tell the soldiers
the hour of the night.
古行軍用具, 夜鳴之以警眾報時.
[*4D] 公主琵琶 (Princess Pipa)
A palace maid (Wang Zhaojun 王昭君) adopted by A Han Emperor as his daughter
and being sent off to marry the ruler of the Kingdom of Wusun. 昔有公主嫁
烏孫 (烏孫國, 漢朝時西域國名, 在今新疆省伊犁河流域), 令琵琶馬上作樂, 以慰
其道路之思.
[*5E] 大漠 (da4 mo4) means a vast desert 廣大的沙漠.
[*6F] 玉門 (The Jade Gate)
The name of a Gate in the present day of Dunhuang county in Gansu province
(甘肅省) 關名, 屬敦煌郡, 去長安三千六百里.
[*7G] 輕車 (Qing Che)
In this case it refers to the nickname of a Han General called Li Guang.
漢李廣曾為輕車將軍.
[*8H] 葡萄 (pu2 tao2)
The grape which was introduced by the Xiongnu to the Han Dynasty (漢朝 202BC
to 220AD) 果名, 漢朝時自西域采葡萄目宿種以歸.
................................................................
(3) Gao Jianli (高漸離) trying to kill the First Emperor
Gao Jianli lived in the state of Yan (燕國 in the present day city of Beijing
北京市) during the Warring States Period (戰國時代 453BC to 221BC). He was
very fond of playing the musical instrument of Zheng Pa (箏琶 with 12 or
13 strings). He befriended a butcher and an adventurer, Jing Ke (荊軻) who
was from the State of Wei (衛國 present day Puyang county 濮陽縣 in Hebei
province 河北省). They often dined out, singing and playing music together.
Ying Zheng (嬴政), the 37th King of the State of Qin (秦國 present day county
of Fengxiang 鳳翔縣 in Shaanxi province 陜西省) wanted to conquer the State
of Yan. Knowing that the only way to stop the State of Qin invading Yan
was to have Ying Zheng assassinated. In 227BC, Ji Dan (姬丹), the Crown
Prince of the State of Yan employed Jing Ke with the help from Gao Jianli
to assassinate Ying Zheng.
Jing Ke traveled to the State of Qin. In order to go near to Ying Zheng,
Jing Ke presented him a map of the State of Yan. A sharp dagger was wrapped
in the map. When Jing Ke opened the map to show Ying Zheng he took out the
dagger to kill Ying Zheng, but he failed. In turn Ying Zheng had Jing Ke
killed.
Knowing that the assassin was sent by Ji Dan, Ying Zheng was furious. The
following year, in 226BC, Ying Zheng ordered General Wang Jian (王翦將軍
) to invade the State of Yan. In the 10th Month, Jicheng (薊城 present day
city of Beijing 北京市) fell to the Qin Army. Ji Xi the ruler of Yan (姬
喜燕王) and the Crown Prince Ji Dan fled east to Xiangping (襄平 present
day Liaoyang (遼陽 in province of Liaodning (遼寧省).
Unrelentingly, Ying Zheng ordered General Li Xin (李信將軍) to go after
Ji Dan and Ji Xi. Ji Jia (姬嘉), the commander of the Yan Army, wrote to
Ji Xi and told him that Ying Zheng hated Ji Dan and wanted Ji Dan's head.
Ji Jia believed that the Qin Army would stop attacking Yan if the head of
Ji Dan were presented to Ying Zheng. In order to save the country Ji Xi
had his son, Ji Dan, executed and presented his head to Ying Zheng.
Indeed the Qin Army stopped attacking Yan. However, in 222BC, the State
of Yan was subjugated by Ying Zheng. In 221BC Ying Zheng conquered all the
States in the land and unified it under a great empire he called it the
of Qin Empire. He proclaimed the formation of his Dynasty called the Qin
Dynasty (秦朝 221BC to 207BC) and himself the First Emperor of Qin (秦始
皇帝).
Gao Jianli changed his surname and gave himself a new name. He became a
servant in a family by the surname of Song (宋). One day, in a banquet in
the Song family the musicians were playing the musical instrument, Zheng
Pa, to entertain the guests. Seeing them playing Gao Jianli commented to
the head of the house servants that he could play much better than the musicians.
Song Zi (宋子) requested Gao Jianli to play for the guests. Indeed Gao
was a good player in Zheng Pa.
Gao Jianli contemplated that he had no future for being just a house servant.
He resigned from his job and became a professional Zheng Pa player. Indeed
he was an excellent musician. News about his playing of Zheng Pa travelled
far and wide. Someone reported to the First Emperor that Gao Jianli, who
had helped Jing Ke to assassinate him was still alive living in the former
State of Yan with a new name. The First Emperor summoned Gao Jianli to the
capital, Xianyang (咸陽 present day city of Xi An 西安). The First Emperor
did not punish Gao Jianli. Instead he employed Gao Jianli to be his musician
playing Zheng Pa. With the purpose of preventing Gao Jianli from attempting
to kill him, the First Emperor had his two eyes gouged out. Gao Jianli now
became a blind man.
The First Emperor loved to listen to Gao Jianli playing the Zheng Pa. One
day, while the First Emperor was sitting next to him listening to him playing,
with all his might, Gao Jianli threw the Zheng Pa at the First Emperor
with the intention of killing him. As he could not see Gao Jian Li missed.
Knowing that Gao Jianli was still harbouring the intention of having him
killed, the First Emperor had him executed.
---------------------------------------------
Note:
Surname Gao (高姓) is the 19th most common Chinese surname in the world.
Posted to asiawind.com
By CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
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